Sondrio is a town, which is located in the Sondrio Province as well as the Valtellina Valley, in the Lombardy region of northern Italy. The town itself is situated in the heart of the valley, but the area is well known for its skiing (borders with Switzerland) and hot springs.

In relative terms the town is quite small with a population of around 22,000; however, it used to be a military camp for the Roman Empire. The current town was established by the Lombards, but after that empire fell it became part of the Holy Roman Empire. There are a total of 78 communities in the province; the largest being the town of Sondrio and the smallest is Pedesina, which only has 34 residents.

The surrounding area has many terraced vineyards and is where some of Italy’s best and most famous wines come from. Back in 2007 it was awarded the title of ‘Alpine City 2007’ and only two other cities in the country have achieved this.

Some of the main sights to see here include the Garibaldi Square, which is the central square and by far the most interesting. There are a number of historic buildings around the square and it is where the main hub of activity for the town takes place. Not too far from the square is the Palazzo Sassi. The palace was a place of residence for a number of centuries, but it is now home to the Art and History museum of Valtellina.

Masegra Castle is another place well worth a visit; it is located on the old road that connects the town to Switzerland. It now houses the Grisons Domination museum, which showcases the life and history of people during the Grisons rule. The Scarpetetti quarter is the oldest section of the town and by far the most interesting. Explore it on foot and see the churches, cathedral, houses and villas that give you a glimpse as to what life would have been like in Sondiro’s past.

The local dishes here are all very rustic and simple; however, there are many pizzerias and restaurants, as all Italians love a good meal. Typical desserts are pastries and it would be a crime not to sample some of the local wine. All in all for a town of its size it has a lot to offer tourists and with a number of other towns relatively close by it gives you the chance to explore a more rustic side of Italy.

Looking for self catering holiday accommodation in Sondrio? Then below is a selection of Apartments in Sondrio and villas in Sondrio that can be rented direct from their owners. You can either click on each listing for further details or you can use our search engine on the left if you are looking for something in particular.